Domonic Brown plays in Philadelphia, home to what many in the media — and many athletes who have played there — say are the harshest fans in sports. Brown knows this first-hand as a once-heralded top prospect who turned into a near-bust. His defensive miscues in the outfield and a perceived lackadaisical nature have already turned some Phillies fans against him.

He was on the receiving end of some particularly nasty messages on the Internet today when he cheered for the Dallas Cowboys, the Eagles’ bitter NFC East rival who beat them 17-3 at Lincoln Financial Field this afternoon. Brown posted this Tweet with the picture, also posted to his Instagram earlier:

Players need to respect the fans when it comes to their job, but they don’t have to live their non-baseball lives according to the wishes of fans. If Brown wants to root for the Cowboys, he should. If a few morons are not able to keep sports team rivalries in perspective, that speaks poorly of them only. Certainly the majority of fans aren’t going to judge his baseball career on this.

Never understood this kinda stuff, all I want out of players on my team is to play hard, support their team, and be a good person off the field. Everything else is irrelevant its called personal life for a reason.

If I were a Philly fan id be happy to have him. The past is the past and his future is bright. That team could use all the help they can get. Otherwise these douchebag fans are gonna probably be making themselves look bad all next year.

I’m a Niners fan and that didn’t really bother me. I can see why some were more upset though, seeing as the Dolphins play the same sport as the 49ers. At least the Cowboys are in a different sport than the Phillies.

I remember a few years ago when LeBron James still played for the Cavs, he wore Yankees stuff to an Indians game and it caused an uproar.

But yeah, these guys are humans and many of them didn’t even grow up in the cities they play in.

Definitely a fair point, and Kaepernick is from the Central Valley as well.

xmatt0926x - Oct 21, 2013 at 1:30 AM

Knucklehead fans who need more meaning to their lives and a knucklehead athlete shallow enough to actually think to intentionally troll the fans of the city he plays in. I don’t know. I see both sides as infantile losers.

Me think someone is gravely underestimating the collective hatred of Dick Allen by fans and teammates. Please, let’s not besmirch Allen’s unrivaled son-of-a-bitchness by comparing a guy who fought with teammates, showed up late to games after being the bar, missed a game because he was at the horse track and once wrote the date that he was going to leave the Phillies in the dirt while waiting in the on-deck circle to a guy who likes the Cowboys.

I’m not saying he has to love the Eagles. He can like whoever he wants. But why would you INVITE criticism? Its counterproductive. You’re in Philly, you’re paid by Philly fans, why would you publicly support one of their biggest rivals?

I’m a diehard Eagles fan. I am also a diehard Philies fan.
I hate the Cowboys.
I think it’s totally alright for someone who didn’t grow up in the Delaware Valley to root for teams from another city in another sport. You want to be a bandwagoner Cowboys fan from Florida, Dom? Go for it, and enjoy yourself.
That being said, he’s deliberately drawing ire with this. It is a dumb move. The Phillies pay your salary. The Phillies get their money from Phillies fans. Most of which are also Eagles fans. Who despise the Cowboys. So on a day when the Eagles season goes off the rails, against Dallas no less, you decide to post a picture of yourself celebrating with Cowboys fans? Just an absolutely clueless move.
How dumb do you have to be? Go ahead and love Dallas, just don’t rub it in your fanbase’s face. Every negative comment has been brought on by you, and you alone- you want to be a huge Cowboys fan in Philly, deal with the consequences just like everyone else.
More importantly, stay healthy and get ready for spring 2014.